Skip to main content

Celebrating Black History

Stories and Speaker that highlight the impact of African American lawyers, judges, and others on the Ohio judiciary. Along with chronicling stories and prominent Black figures that have shaped the state’s legal past and present, the Court provides a forum for topics of legal and historical significance.


The Art of Justice. Stories of Black Cultural Expression

Feb. 7, 2024

Image of a man and a woman sitting to one side of a display of three paintings. Another woman sits on the other side of the display. All are sitting in front of an audience of men and woman in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
From left: Lyn Ford, Duarte Brown, and Chiquita Mullins Lee

Award-winning artist-educators captured the imaginations of high school students that filled the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center. Visual artist and muralist Duarte Brown, internationally known historic storyteller Lyn Ford, and arts education coordinator Chiquita Mullins Lee shared their stories of expressing justice through their art.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Opening Doors to Careers in Law

Feb. 28, 2023

Young people bound for careers in law and justice spoke at the Supreme Court of Ohio about the experiences that sparked their interest in a legal career, their dreams, and the determination to achieve.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of three women sitting in red velvet chairs while a man stands at a wooden podium speaking to an audience of men and women in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
Imokhai Okolo

The Story of Daisy Perkins

Feb. 24, 2022

Illustration of an African American woman in a blue dress standing in front of a jury.
Daisy Perkins

Daisy Perkins was the first Black woman to practice law in Ohio, representing criminal defendants in Columbus throughout the 1920's, until charges of perjury forced her out of the legal profession and sent her to prison.

Part of the Prejudice and Progress documentary series exploring racial injustice and the legal journeys of African Americans in Ohio.

Watch video

Crying out for Answers

Aug. 4, 2021

Retired Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Ronald Adrine reflects on his experience as a young lawyer serving as a committee investigator for the U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations that was formed to investigate the killings of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy.

Part of the Prejudice and Progress documentary series exploring racial injustice and the legal journeys of African Americans in Ohio.

Watch video

Image of an African American man wearing a blue suit
Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Ronald Adrine (Ret.)

Knock the Monster in the Head

Feb. 24, 2021

Black and white image of an African American man from the 1800s
Rep. Benjamin Arnett

The story of pioneering state Rep. Benjamin Arnett and his battle against the “Ohio Black Laws,” a Northern version of the South’s Jim Crow statutes that denied free Black Americans their full rights in society.

Part of the Prejudice and Progress documentary series exploring racial injustice and the legal journeys of African Americans in Ohio.

Watch video

Mapp v. Ohio

Nov. 16, 2020

Once upon a time in Cleveland, a vengeful crime boss, an aggressive police detective, and a stubborn young Shaker Heights woman inadvertently changed American justice forever.

Part of the Ohio on Trial series exploring landmark and significant Ohio court cases.

Watch video

Black and white image of a police mug shot of an African American woman from the 1950s.
Dollree "Dolly" Mapp

The Harmony of Music and the Law

Feb. 10, 2020

Image of Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
Justice Melody Stewart

Justice Melody Stewart, the first African American woman elected to the Supreme Court of Ohio, delivered an insightful presentation on how her knowledge of law and music often intertwine, and how she uses her musical background to aid her legal work.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Science and Your Future in a Diverse Society

Feb. 25, 2019

Dr. Frederic Bertley, CEO of COSI Columbus, shared his passion for improving the quality of science education and his visionary ideas about appreciating the science that is all around us.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of Dr. Frederic Bertley speaking in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
Dr. Frederic Bertley

Setting Targets for Your Life

Feb. 26, 2018

Image of former Ohio State University running back Maurice Clarett speaking in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center
Maurice Clarett

Former Ohio State University running back Maurice Clarett shared about his success on the football field, struggle with drugs and alcohol, self-engineered redemption, and his emergence as a leader in his hometown of Youngstown.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Freedom and the Rule of Law

Feb. 27, 2017

Dr. Clarence Newsome, Ph.D., President of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati from 2013-2017, spoke about his experience and academic work in African American history and culture, as well as religious history.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of an African American man wearing a dark three-piece suit speaking from behind a podium in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.

The Civil Rights Act of 1866

Oct. 18, 2016

Image of Avery Friedman speaking from behind a podium in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center
Avery Friedman

Appreciation of the long journey of American civil rights law is vital to understanding how our nation’s aspirations of liberty and freedom have evolved. 2016 marked the 150th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which remains a cornerstone of human rights enforcement. Noted civil rights attorney Avery Friedman discusses the impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and its importance in ensuring fairness and equal opportunity in American life.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio Forum on the Law lecture series established in 2009 by the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer featuring regional or national speakers who address contemporary or historic legal topics.

Watch video More information

Using Your Law Degree to Lead, Inspire, and Shape Public Policy

Feb. 17, 2016

Michael Coleman shared remarks centered on how he used his law degree to lead, inspire, and shape public policy during his tenure as Mayor of Columbus from 2000 to 2015.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of former Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman speaking in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
Michael B. Coleman

Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination that Changed America

Oct. 20, 2015

Image of Wil Haygood speaking from behind a podium in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center
Wil Haygood

Wil Haygood discusses his book “Showdown: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination that Changed America.” Haygood’s book recounts the stop-at-nothing efforts by a bloc of Southern senators to deny Marshall’s confirmation as the first African American justice to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio Forum on the Law lecture series established in 2009 by the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer featuring regional or national speakers who address contemporary or historic legal topics.

Watch video More information

Law & Leadership Institute Students

Feb. 25, 2015

Students from the Law & Leadership Institute engaged in a panel discussion about the quote, “Always stand up for what is right, even if it means you have to stand alone.”

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of a young African American man speaking from behind a podium to a group of people.
Akua Sefa, Imnet Arega, Ares Harper & Gabriel Jackson

Curtis Moody, CEO/President, Principal-in-Charge of Design, Moody Nolan, Inc.

Feb. 25, 2014

Image of Curtis J. Moody speaking
Curtis J. Moody

Renowned Columbus architect Curtis Moody discussed the continued need for legislative initiatives, such as affirmative action, to ensure racial inclusion and diversity in business. Moody, who is the president and CEO of the firm Moody-Nolan, has designed or remodeled buildings across the country, including Value City Arena and the Ohio Union in Columbus. He assisted in the renovation of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in 2004.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

 Watch video

Janet E. Jackson, Former President and CEO, United Way of Columbus

Feb. 5, 2013

Janet E. Jackson, C.E.O. and President of the United Way of Central Ohio and former Franklin County judge shared the importance of improving diversity on the bench and bar, and the changes she witnessed in the years from when she first received her law degree to the present-day.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Image of Janet E. Jackson speaking
Janet E. Jackson

Yvette McGee Brown, Former Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio

Feb. 15, 2011

Image of former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown
Yvette McGee Brown

Justice Yvette McGee Brown, Ohio's first female African American Justice, spoke of her background, personal philosophy, and heroes.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video More information

Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America

April 27, 2010

Sharon Davies, the John C. Elam/Vorys Sater Distinguished Profession of Law at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, discusses her book "Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race and Religion in America" about a revenge killing of a priest and the resulting sensational trial in Birmingham, Ala., in 1921.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio Forum on the Law lecture series established in 2009 by the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer featuring regional or national speakers who address contemporary or historic legal topics.

Watch video

Image of Sharon Davies speaking from behind a podium in the courtroom of the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center.
Sharon Davies

Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen

Feb. 17, 2010

Image of an African American man wearing a blue dress military uniform speaking from behind a podium
Edward Morast

U.S. Military Veterans and artist Robert Tanner Sr. discussed the impact and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military airmen.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

Watch video

Robert M. Duncan, Former Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio; Judge, U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio

Feb. 19, 2009

Federal Judge Robert Duncan spoke of his groundbreaking career, important events and people that impacted Black History in Ohio, and his friendship with Chief Justice Thomas Moyer. He also recounted his personal experiences of growing up in segregated times and the incredible changes he witnessed in his lifetime. Judge Duncan was the first African American elected to judicial office in Franklin County, the first to serve on the Supreme Court of Ohio, the first to win a seat in a statewide Ohio election, the first to serve on the U.S. Court of Military Appeals, and the first to be appointed to the federal bench in Ohio.

Part of the Supreme Court of Ohio annual Black History Month celebrations recognizing the extraordinary contributions of African Americans to the history of Ohio and the United States.

More information

Image of Robert M. Duncan speaking to a group of people from behind a podium
Robert M. Duncan

Contact Information

Civic Education Section
Supreme Court of Ohio
65 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215-3431

Civic Education & Outreach Manager:
Doug Stein

Word files may be viewed for free with Office Online.

PDF Files may be viewed, printed, and searched using the Free Acrobat® Reader. Acrobat Reader is a trademark of Adobe Inc.